Blessed Be the Food: Difference between revisions

Line 55:

The foods that are always mentioned first are bread, eggs, salt and smoked meats (ham, sausage, etc.). As for their supposed symbolism, in the case of bread it’s a very Christian one: bread as the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. Eggs (often brightly dyed or painted) are said to be a symbol of new or reborn life; and even though you may associate them with Christ’s resurrection, the sources avoid using the word “resurrection” itself. Salt is particularly rich in symbolic meanings: hospitality, truth, meaning of life and even immortality. As for the meats, we shall come back to them later.

Further spots are taken by: black pepper (if mentioned, then always in the same breath as salt), lamb, cakes and horseradish. The pepper is supposedly symbolic of “harmony between humans and nature”; cakes (especially [[Good King Stanislas and the Forty Thieves|babas]], or Polish bundt cakes) stand for skill and perfection (which is why they should be ~~always~~ home-made), while horseradish is meant to be a sign of Christ’s victory over suffering. It’s getting more and more creative, I must say. When it comes to the lamb, it’s not really the meat of a young sheep, but a lamb figurine, representing – depending on the source – Christ resurrected, victory of life over death and of good over evil, or meekness and gentleness. The figurine may be fashioned out of butter, sugar, cake, chocolate or plaster (in the latter case, consumption not recommended). According to some sources, you may also add cheese (possibly ''paskha'', a delicious Easter fresh-cheese dessert, although the illustrations feature slices of yellow Swiss-type cheese instead), butter, chocolate (probably in the form of a lamb or a bunny) and water.

Further spots are taken by: black pepper (if mentioned, then always in the same breath as salt), lamb, cakes and horseradish. The pepper is supposedly symbolic of “harmony between humans and nature”; cakes (especially [[Good King Stanislas and the Forty Thieves|babas]], or Polish bundt cakes) stand for skill and perfection (which is why they should always be home-made), while horseradish is meant to be a sign of Christ’s victory over suffering. It’s getting more and more creative, I must say. When it comes to the lamb, it’s not really the meat of a young sheep, but a lamb figurine, representing – depending on the source – Christ resurrected, victory of life over death and of good over evil, or meekness and gentleness. The figurine may be fashioned out of butter, sugar, cake, chocolate or plaster (in the latter case, consumption not recommended). According to some sources, you may also add cheese (possibly ''paskha'', a delicious Easter fresh-cheese dessert, although the illustrations feature slices of yellow Swiss-type cheese instead), butter, chocolate (probably in the form of a lamb or a bunny) and water.

<nomobile>[[File:Dwa koszyki, dziesięć różnic.png|thumb|upright|Spot ten differences.]]</nomobile>

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 The foods that are always mentioned first are bread, eggs, salt and smoked meats (ham, sausage, etc.). As for their supposed symbolism, in the case of bread it’s a&nbsp;very Christian one: bread as the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. Eggs (often brightly dyed or painted) are said to be a&nbsp;symbol of new or reborn life; and even though you may associate them with Christ’s resurrection, the sources avoid using the word “resurrection” itself. Salt is particularly rich in symbolic meanings: hospitality, truth, meaning of life and even immortality. As for the meats, we shall come back to them later.
-Further spots are taken by: black pepper (if mentioned, then always in the same breath as salt), lamb, cakes and horseradish. The pepper is supposedly symbolic of “harmony between humans and nature”; cakes (especially [[Good King Stanislas and the Forty Thieves|babas]], or Polish bundt cakes) stand for skill and perfection (which is why they should be always home-made), while horseradish is meant to be a&nbsp;sign of Christ’s victory over suffering. It’s getting more and more creative, I must say. When it comes to the lamb, it’s not really the meat of a&nbsp;young sheep, but a&nbsp;lamb figurine, representing – depending on the source – Christ resurrected, victory of life over death and of good over evil, or meekness and gentleness. The figurine may be fashioned out of butter, sugar, cake, chocolate or plaster (in the latter case, consumption not recommended). According to some sources, you may also add cheese (possibly ''paskha'', a&nbsp;delicious Easter fresh-cheese dessert, although the illustrations feature slices of yellow Swiss-type cheese instead), butter, chocolate (probably in the form of a&nbsp;lamb or a&nbsp;bunny) and water.
+Further spots are taken by: black pepper (if mentioned, then always in the same breath as salt), lamb, cakes and horseradish. The pepper is supposedly symbolic of “harmony between humans and nature”; cakes (especially [[Good King Stanislas and the Forty Thieves|babas]], or Polish bundt cakes) stand for skill and perfection (which is why they should always be home-made), while horseradish is meant to be a&nbsp;sign of Christ’s victory over suffering. It’s getting more and more creative, I must say. When it comes to the lamb, it’s not really the meat of a&nbsp;young sheep, but a&nbsp;lamb figurine, representing – depending on the source – Christ resurrected, victory of life over death and of good over evil, or meekness and gentleness. The figurine may be fashioned out of butter, sugar, cake, chocolate or plaster (in the latter case, consumption not recommended). According to some sources, you may also add cheese (possibly ''paskha'', a&nbsp;delicious Easter fresh-cheese dessert, although the illustrations feature slices of yellow Swiss-type cheese instead), butter, chocolate (probably in the form of a&nbsp;lamb or a&nbsp;bunny) and water.
 <nomobile>[[File:Dwa koszyki, dziesięć różnic.png|thumb|upright|Spot ten differences.]]</nomobile>